Breakdown of Μου αρέσουν όλα τα είδη μουσικής, αλλά στα βιβλία προτιμώ τα σύγχρονα μυθιστορήματα.
αλλά
but
μου
me
σε
in
το βιβλίο
the book
Questions & Answers about Μου αρέσουν όλα τα είδη μουσικής, αλλά στα βιβλία προτιμώ τα σύγχρονα μυθιστορήματα.
What is the literal structure of Μου αρέσουν όλα τα είδη μουσικής? Which word is the subject?
In Greek the structure is different from English.
- μου = to me (indirect object, weak pronoun, genitive)
- αρέσουν = are pleasing (3rd person plural)
- όλα τα είδη μουσικής = all the kinds of music
So the subject of the verb αρέσουν is όλα τα είδη μουσικής (neuter plural).
The whole clause literally means: “All the kinds of music are pleasing to me.”
In English we flip this to: “I like all kinds of music.”
But in Greek, I is not the subject; it’s an indirect object (μου).
Why is it μου αρέσουν and not μου αρέσει here?
The verb αρέσω agrees with the thing that is liked, not with the person who likes it.
- μου αρέσει is used with a singular subject:
- Μου αρέσει η μουσική. = I like music.
- μου αρέσουν is used with a plural subject:
- Μου αρέσουν όλα τα είδη μουσικής. = I like all kinds of music.
Here the subject is όλα τα είδη (all the kinds) → plural → αρέσουν.
What exactly is μου doing in μου αρέσουν?